Evaluation of a mobile phone-based, advanced symptom management system (ASyMS) in the management of chemotherapy-related toxicity.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the impact of a mobile phone-based, remote monitoring, advanced symptom management system (ASyMS) on the incidence, severity and distress of six chemotherapy-related symptoms (nausea, vomiting, fatigue, mucositis, hand-foot syndrome and diarrhoea) in patients with lung, breast or colorectal cancer.


METHODS
A two group (intervention and control) by five time points (baseline, pre-cycle 2, pre-cycle 3, pre-cycle 4 and pre-cycle 5) randomised controlled trial.


METHODS
Seven clinical sites in the UK; five specialist cancer centres and two local district hospitals.


METHODS
One hundred and twelve people with breast, lung or colorectal cancer receiving outpatient chemotherapy.


METHODS
A mobile phone-based, remote monitoring, advanced symptom management system (ASyMS).


METHODS
Chemotherapy-related morbidity of six common chemotherapy-related symptoms (nausea, vomiting, fatigue, mucositis, hand-foot syndrome and diarrhoea).


RESULTS
There were significantly higher reports of fatigue in the control group compared to the intervention group (odds ratio = 2.29, 95%CI = 1.04 to 5.05, P = 0.040) and reports of hand-foot syndrome were on average lower in the control group (odds ratio control/intervention = 0.39, 95%CI = 0.17 to 0.92, P = 0.031).


CONCLUSIONS
The study demonstrates that ASyMS can support the management of symptoms in patients with lung, breast and colorectal cancer receiving chemotherapy.
Kearney
N
N
Cancer Care Research Centre, Department of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK, nora.kearney@stir.ac.uk
McCann
L
L
Norrie
J
J
Taylor
L
L
Gray
P
P
McGee-Lennon
M
M
Sage
M
M
Miller
M
M
Maguire
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D040421:Cell Phone; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000379:methods; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents